It is something I can try to do for England and hopefully bring the best out of them, as they can bring the best out of me

England striker Wayne Rooney

With Steven Gerrard suspended for the World Cup qualifier against San Marino at Wembley, Chelsea star Lampard was next in line for the captain’s armband.

However, Lampard has a knee injury which has restricted him to light jogging this week and the midfielder expects boss Roy Hodgson not to risk him against the minnows, with a far tougher tie in Poland to come on Tuesday.

Rooney has made no secret of his desire to captain his country and spoke this week about how he wants to bring out the best in Hodgson’s young players, like the legendary Eric Cantona did at Manchester United.

Hodgson is also understood to have told Ashley Cole he will not face San Marino, with Everton’s in-form Leighton Baines coming in at left-back.

However, the England boss has stressed this has nothing to do with Cole’s Twitter rant at the FA on Friday.

Hodgson also does not want to gamble on Cole, who has to nurse a long-term ankle problem and missed the trip to Moldova in the last double-header, so he could be saved for the home clash with Ukraine.

The 31-year-old’s absence will mean a rare England team without a Chelsea player in it.

Rooney, who has earned 76 caps, has been on his best behaviour lately. He has had his fair share of negative headlines, including being photographed in a Las Vegas club in the build-up to Euro 2012.

Be he feels he is ready to lead, saying: “It is something I can try to do for England and hopefully bring the best out of them, as they can bring the best out of me.”